Start 'Em, Sit 'Em ft. Wolf, Kuemper, Dobes, and More

Good day to you, Hockey Fans. And it is a good day, after all, for we have an abundance of hockey to watch, critique, analyze and discuss tonight, all on this fine Thursday in November that sees Devin Cooley as the top net minder in save percentage, as we all predicted. Actually, seeing his name on top of that list (save percentage for goalies with at least 5 games played) gave me a pause and as I perused the top ten or so goalies in that category, I got goosebumps reading the names. Yes, old faithful was there, Connor Hellebuyck, along with a familiar face in Logan Thompson, but the rest of the list was made up of payers that went undrafted in most leagues; take a look at this list of goalies with the top save percentages in the league, courtesy of frozen tools

1. Devin Cooley .935
2. Logan Thompson .935
3. Spencer Knight .927
4. Connor Hellebuyck .921
5. Jakub Dobes .920
6. Dan Vladar .917
7. Arturs Silovs .916
8. Jake Allen .914
9. Scott Wedgwood .913
10. Arvid Solderblom .913
11. Tristan Jarry .911
12. Alex Lyon .911
13. Jesper Wallstedt .909

What the heck, goalies? Well, this list unsettled me very much, so I decided to dig into last year’s save percentage list from early November and run a comparison with the end of the year to see how many of these names we can expect to hang around long term. Short answer, only 6 of the top 15 goalies that were on this list last November 13 managed to stay in the top 15 in save percentage by the end of the season. All of this is to say that it is still early in the season and there is no need for Vasi, Shesty, or Blackwoody (?) owners to panic just yet. The hot and cold streaks will ebb and flow throughout the NHL’s lengthy season and by the end of it - we will be left with a sample size that is whole enough to live up to the old idiom that “cream rises to the top.”

For this week, we are back up to double digits with 10 games slated for this Thursday night and that makes for 20 goalies and some careful decisions to make. Let’s analyze the data, check our guts, and start ‘em up — welcome to Goalie Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em - let’s dive in!

(Please note that the goalies listed are considered “probable” to start. Keep refreshing your Goalie Post app to see which goalies are “confirmed” starting. Don’t have the app? Get it for Apple or Android.)

Start ‘Em

Darcy Kuemper, Los Angeles Kings - After a slow start to the season, the Kings are on a bit of a heater (6-2-2 in last 10 games) and are starting to look like the team that could very much lose to the Oilers in the first round of the playoffs again. Seriously, though, this looks like a team that is starting to find its footing. They are on game 3 of a 6 game road trip to the northeast that has given them wins in Pittsburgh and Montreal, so far. And while we can’t expect them to sweep their entire road trip, this matchup against Toronto looks appetizing. Toronto has been hit by the injury bug recently and the health statuses of starting goalie Anthony Stolarz, as well as, team captain and league superstar Auston Matthews are up in the air (both exited Tuesday’s game early against Boston). Without Matthews’ lethal shot, the Leafs may look a bit one-dimensional and the Kings should be able to contain them well enough to pick up the win for Kuemper and the fantasy managers who start him. Let’s do it, Start ‘Em!

Start ‘Em

Dustin Wolf, Calgary Flames - Ok, so don’t just run out and trade some over-performing player for Wolf, who has completely underwhelmed fantasy managers and probably real life managers up this point this season, but consider this one more of a gut call on the matchup. The San Jose Sharks are looking like Avalanche lite out there recently, having won 4 in a row and going 7-2-1 in their past 10, while teenage phenom Celebrini climbs higher and higher up the NHL’s scoring race. Meanwhile, the Flames come into this one having dropped 3 in a row, and sporting a 3-6-1 record in their past 10, but the gut tells me that this is a matchup that Calgary can win and maybe Dustin Wolf can feel that, as well. As far as our brains go, they can be satisfied knowing that San Jose only generates 24.5 shots per game, which is the lowest in the league, while their goals forced per game is currently 13th overall, meaning - they’ve had A LOT of puck luck, so far, and puck luck is not a sustainable statistic. Let’s see if luck backs up Wolf and the Flames at home for this one. You know you drafted him, may as well Start ‘Em!

Sit ‘Em

Alex Lyon, Buffalo Sabres - Currently, just outside of the top ten in league wide save percentage, Alex Lyon enters this matchup against Colorado with a 2.92 GAA and a .911 SV%, both respectable numbers for any fantasy net minder. However, on the road against a Colorado Avalanche team that has been absolutely cooking recently (4 game win streak with 21 goals scored in those 4 games!), this is as sure as a “Sit ‘Em” as the goalie position gets. On top of that, this will be the second game of Buffalo’s back to back, with both games on the road (at Utah Wednesday). Maybe you’ve been able to ride his hot glove recently, but make sure he is on the bench for this tilt in Colorado. Sit ‘Em!

Sit ‘Em

Jakub Dobes, Montreal Canadiens - In case you didn’t catch it, Dobes is another goalie currently in that Top 15 Save Percentage list from above who is showing up as a “Sit ‘Em” today, while neither of our “Start ‘Ems” are currently included on that very list of twine tenders. What can I say, we take some swings here. Anyway, Dobes enters this matchup with pretty much the overall best goalie stats in the league (6-0-1 record, 2.25 GAA, .920 SV%), but with little history to back them up. He should get the nod for the Atlantic Division leading Canadiens when they play host to the Dallas Stars on Thursday night. Dallas comes into the Bell Centre having won 3 in a row and having picked up points in 7 of their 8 games away from home this season. Head to head, the Stars have won 7 of the last 10 matchups when these two teams have met and while many of the Montreal faithful may view this matchup as a precursor to the Stanley Cup Finals where teams grind their way to victory, this game is, also, only a Mikko Rantenen hat trick away from a “Really Bad Start” for Dobes. Rantenen and the Stars are due. Sit ‘Em.

Desperation Mode Play

Petr Mrazek, Anaheim Ducks - If you find yourself desperate for a spot start, Mrazek may just carry you to glory against Detroit on Thursday night. The Czech native enters this game in Detroit with a clean 3-0 record and a very, very, messy 4.56 GAA and .864 SV%. Still, this is a revenge game for Mrazek - he has been traded from Detroit (the team that drafted him) on, not one, but two separate occasions! If there is a game that Mrazek would be dialed in for this season, you can bet that he circled this game on his calendar and is ready for it. At only 9% rostered in Fantrax and 1% in Yahoo and ESPN leagues, this keeper is surely available for a stream should you be in need. This is a desperation mode Start ‘Em!

That’s all for this week, thanks for reading! My name is Garrett Finlay and you can follow me on X @garrett_fi51284 and on Bluesky @garrettfinlay.bsky.social where I am often talking goalies and fantasy hockey. I’ll be back here next Thursday to breakdown another busy night of twine tending action! Happy Hockeying and good luck out there!